Russia Sentences Four Journalists to 5.5 Years for Navalny Ties

A Moscow court has sentenced four journalists—Antonina Kravtsova, Konstantin Gabov, Sergei Karelin, and Artem Kriger—to five and a half years in a penal colony after convicting them of links to the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny's banned organization. This ruling marks a significant escalation in Russia's crackdown on dissent and press freedom, following the Kremlin's designation of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation as an extremist group. The trial, held behind closed doors, has drawn criticism from supporters and press freedom advocates who assert that the journalists were merely doing their jobs. During the proceedings, the journalists maintained their innocence, with Kriger expressing hope for a future where they would meet again in freedom. The sentences have sparked outrage and highlighted the ongoing repression faced by independent media in Russia. Navalny's death in prison last year has further fueled demands for accountability regarding government actions against dissenters.